 Rep. Paul Novotny presents the omnibus public safety and judiciary budget bill on the House Floor April 25. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)
Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL-Shoreview) characterized the $3.66 billion omnibus public safety and judiciary budget bill as a bipartisan effort that funds critical government operations and programs to improve public safety.
Rep. Paul Novotny (R-Elk River), who sponsors the bill, echoed those sentiments and also praised the spirit of compromise that went into crafting it.
Moller and Novotny co-chair the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, and both also said the budget constraints they were working under left them frustrated because a lot of good programs could not be funded.
Moller said the $50 million increase allotted to the committee “doesn’t even come close to covering the operating adjustments for our agencies.”
She said, for example, that the shortfalls would mean the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension would fall behind in processing evidence and it would be harder for investigators of violent crimes to do their work.
Still, she was grateful that crime victim services would get $16 million in new funding in 2026-27 and $4 million in each succeeding biennium.
The House voted Friday 128-4 to pass HF2432, as amended, which sends it to the Senate. Read more
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